I want to make it clear, I sit on the side of naturally being messier than tidier. I am not one of those people that naturally loves to organise and tidy up. I have learnt though that a messy house makes for a messy life. I am serious when I say that! How much better do you feel when you have everything under control and you’re not looking at an endlessly messy house!
When thinking about being a work at home mom, I believe that keeping the house tidy makes so much more space for you to spend time on your business. There’s nothing worse than trying to get work done when you know you’ve got so many other things to do in the house. It doesn’t make for a creative mind!
So, here are my top tips to keep your messy house, tidy.
Make the bed at the beginning of the day
This one might seem small but if you start the day with a tidy space, you’re more likely to carry that through the day. On top of that, it’s so lovely when the bedroom is tidy. It’s the space that’s yours and it’s your sanctuary. Keeping the bedroom tidy is one of my top priorities!
Do one load of washing a day
This was a game-changer for me!
I am that person that used to have piles of washing in the laundry and sitting on my bed. It was a nightmare. Not only did it take ages to find things that I needed but it just created so much unnecessary mess.
My routine now is to put a load of washing on in the morning and get it out on the line or in the dryer. Once it’s dried you need to finish the cycle and get it all away. It takes no time when it’s just one load and you never end up with piles of washing hanging around!
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Keep items off the floor
If you’re looking at a space and notice how tidy it is, chances are there’s nothing on the ground. Now, I don’t mean toys and things but actual items that are stored on the floor. This might include boxes, heavy furniture (when you can see the floor under the furniture it makes the space seem much tidier) or storage of other things.
The more floor space you can see, the more spacious and tidy the area will feel.
To help with this, have a look around your house and see how much of the floor you can see. If you’ve got things everywhere, are there other places you can store those items?
Declutter. Declutter. Declutter.
I think it is probably the biggest factor in a messy house with most people. It’s a simple fact that you own too much and can’t keep it all sorted and organised.
The feeling of purging items that you no longer need is amazing! It makes you feel so much lighter and freer, even though it can seem super daunting if you’re new to decluttering.
If it’s all new to you, I recommend that you start with an area that is relatively easy to declutter like the bathroom. Go through everything and throw out anything out of date, beyond its life span, cosmetics that you don’t use and other creams and potions that are hiding in there. Once you see how that makes you feel, it might be easier to tackle other areas like the kid’s toys and your wardrobes.
Keep flat surfaces clear
Make sure all flat surfaces remain clear. This is another tip that will just make the space seem much clearer and tidier. Start with areas that you know are common spots for items to accumulate. Get systems in place and eliminate those piles.
Just be warned, you’ll probably need to be on the consistently, they have a way of piling up again.
Keep items stored in baskets or tubs
If you have some open shelves or kids areas, use baskets or tubs to keep items together. Not only will it look tidier but it will also keep those items stored with similar items so they’re easy to find.
Do the dishes after every meal
A messy kitchen makes a messy house. One of the easiest ways to keep the kitchen tidy is to wash the dishes after every meal. Don’t leave them for later! They just end up being a huge job.
There are a few ways that you can do this. You can actually wash them up after every meal, you can fill the sink with washing detergent to soak and then do them later or you can make sure that the dishwasher always has space for dirty dishes. Whichever you chose, your kitchen will appear much tidier
Have the kids help tidy up at the end of the day
Make it a family affair to tidy up at the end of the day. It seems so much more enjoyable when everyone does their part and contributes to keeping the house tidy. We often make a game out of it and see who can pick up and put away the most number of items.
Wipe down the basin when you’re drying your hands
This is a quick tip to keeping the bathroom presentable. Make sure you have the cleaning cloth in the bathroom and simple wipe down the surfaces when you use the bathroom. So simple!
Have a plan for the mail and other papers
Mail is one of those things that seem to pile up. It’s easy to keep under control if you have a system for it. In our house, we open the mail each day and then either place in the ‘to be filed’ folder, the ‘to be paid’ folder or the bin. Then once a week I go through and make payments and file documents that need to be filed. We’re pretty strict on what actually gets filed, most things you probably don’t need and can be thrown in the bin straight away.
Make a place for everything
If everything has a place, then it’s easy to get everything back where it belongs! Once you’ve decluttered there will be more space to store the items that you do have well. If everyone knows where items belong, they can all contribute to keeping the house tidy and putting things away.
I hope those tips help you move out of the messy house and into the realm of a tidy house. It is a process that requires time and consistency but once you have it going you’ll be feeling so much better! It’s amazing what a tidy house can do!
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